I would be one getting testy, as in I don't want the uber-talented 30 yr old who for the last 3 years has played 57, 69, and 60 games at a 9.5 hit through 20/21.

Call me CONservative but I need reasonable assurances a core guy will be on the ice.
- Mr Ricochet

If you need my reassurance, he's only missed 7 playoff games (MCL/ACL tear in '10-'11)

It's like going to Taco Bell and complaining they only serve Mexican food.
- furso27

Thats not Mexican food...

Does the $73M cap after the NHLPA voted for the escalator clause mean that the cap was actually going to go down to $69.5M?

It makes total sense to me. Deviating from it only opens the door for things to go sideways, or get off track in here.
- EKB13

everyone always wants PROOF, that's the problem.

Don't 'envy your job chief. Tough gig.

I think it's certainly a possibility that he'd be willing to resign.
- Dabearshawks

Was he a good fit in the "room"? I remember an interview with Toews after the STL series, saying the team needed to do a better job of integrating new personalities. Was Dale one of them?

Thats not Mexican food...
- TheTrob

It sure isn't. However, I do like Taco John's - despite it being Americanized fast-food crap.

Don't 'envy your job chief. Tough gig.
- SteveRain

Thanks. I'm happy to do it.

It amuses me that people come to an NHL rumors site and complain that there are NHL rumors on it.
- matt_ahrens

Gotta make a distinction though, Matt. People go click on EK, and others, for pure spitballing, non fact, click baiting, but not so at JJ's blog.

No headlined blogs or comments designed to cultivate hits. If so this reader would have been long gone.

If you step away from Kane the player, and realize how much agony he has put this organization through and embarrassment it wouldn't surprise me. Where is the level of trust and while....again....the puppets can write their fluff pieces about how he's working out in Chicago, and changed his tune, and whatever else......we have all seen this before.

I would doubt they would trade him BUT.....from an owner, a president who may be the biggest control freak in sports today, can you trust an asset who has shown zero signs of maturity, a path of self destruction at times, an obvious alcohol indulgence problem and inability to stay consistently away from trouble, and no matter how many of his boys the Hawks trade or dont' resign......kane just goes down that path every few years.

This right now very well could be the last Kane bullet in the eyes of McDonough and IF You were to trade Kane, you would need a huge return coming back, which makes Malkin that choice. Plus they have the new flavor in Panarin that they will pimp all over the place.

I wouldn't do it because I think Kane is only getting better and based on this year season I want to believe he has finally GOTTEN IT off the ice, but I can fully understand why the organization would be VERY hesitant to believe anything that comes out of his mouth.
- SteveRain

Good points Steve. I will say this on Kane: Other than a top 2 D-man or a North American top 6 forward coming to the Hawks I wouldn't even engage in the convo.

Does the $73M cap after the NHLPA voted for the escalator clause mean that the cap was actually going to go down to $69.5M?
- tvetter

Yep.....the 500 lb elephant in the room is that HRR was actually less and the cap would have been down if not for the players' escalator. Great article by Lebrun interviewing Fehr about this on ESPN.com if you want to look. Very good insight.

So to my understanding, next Friday, the hawks can be 10% up over 73 million towards NEXT year's cap if they want to sign panarin LT. Once that cap number is released for 2017-18 they will have to get cap compliant by opening day or if the cap were to drop next year vs this year.

Which is why I think CC stays another year and gives Bowman some leverage to keep Darlings AAV down to help navigate those waters for next year.

What would the rights to Hamhuis cost? Would he be a #4D option? Could the Hawks trade TVR and Shaw's rights to sign him? I assume the Hawks would still need to dump a salary to make this happen....right?

Thats not Mexican food...
- TheTrob

Is that a rumor or fact?

Good points Steve. I will say this on Kane: Other than a top 2 D-man or a North American top 6 forward coming to the Hawks I wouldn't even engage in the convo.
- nickmo2699

100% agreed.

I don't know if Malkin is the right return, but lets hope Kane has learned. I would expect him to be getting engaged very soon to his LT GF. I know she stuck with him through last summer and never wavered.

See how that all plays out. Kid is an amazing hockey player, and nobody is perfect off the ice, but he has to realize he attracts as many idiots as he does good people when out in public and in todays digital world.....everyone will see it.

What would it actually take to pry Malkin away and have it work cap wise for both teams? Seabrook, Shaw, and 2017 first? I think the Pens would require an overpayment. It's not easy to replace a center of that caliber.

I'm wondering, how much better are the Hawks looking to make that second line? Enough to trade away a crucial part of the penalty kill?!?

Safe to say this is the most bizarre rumor I've ever heard. Even more bizarre than those incessant CC trade rumors.

Malkin and Matt Murray for Kane, Crawford and the ability to resign 72.

Heard it here first.

Just throwing it out there....Weise is a cheaper option if Shaw doesn't work out. Sure Q benched him a bunch but if he had to pick between playing Weise or playing Rockford players something tells me he'd go with Weise.
- Dabearshawks

Weise doesn't need the Q treatment and this time has a say in it. For his sake I hope he succeeds wildly like Daley has and Brouwer as well, as shown by his convulsion like glee beating Q in Game 7.

No, Q had his chance with all 3 players.

What would it actually take to pry Malkin away and have it work cap wise for both teams? Seabrook, Shaw, and 2017 first? I think the Pens would require an overpayment. It's not easy to replace a center of that caliber.
- SimmerDown17

No.

No.
- DeflatedPucks

Yeah thats way too much for if all we're getting back is Malkin

Malkin and Matt Murray for Kane, Crawford and the ability to resign 72.

Heard it here first.
- busmaster

Kane and Crawford for Malkin and Murray - no thanks.

No.
- DeflatedPucks

As in not enough to pry Malkin? Or an overpayment? I was even going to say Seabrook, Shaw, and Panarin for Malkin.

As in not enough to pry Malkin? Or an overpayment? I was even going to say Seabrook, Shaw, and Panarin for Malkin.
- SimmerDown17

How about this, how about the Blackhawks trade their entire franchise to Pittsburgh in exchange for the Penguins? Will that work? That would be one way to get Malkin....AND Crosby...AND instantly become Cup champs again....

Hossa + AA for Malkin

It's almost an even swap AAV wise

Kane and Crawford for Malkin and Murray - no thanks.
- EbonyRaptor

That trade would put the Pens further in Cap Hell as it sits.

The key to putting together rumor site trades, is that EVERYBODY over values their players and under values the other teams.

There is no fair deal for players like Malkin and Kane. Someone will always feel ripped.